Kiwi company launches premium salmon breed

New Zealand now has its own seafood
version of Japan’s famed Wagyu[1] beef.

Ōra King
is a new breed of salmon developed by Marlborough-based New
Zealand King Salmon especially for fine dining in New
Zealand and abroad.

The company says the brand
represents its pinnacle of achievement, founded on more than
two decades of classical breeding, reinforced by its world
leading expertise in growing King salmon.

Only the
finest salmon in terms of size, colour and flesh quality are
selected for the Ōra King brand, according to NZ King
Salmon.

Befitting such a celebrated seafood, Ōra
King is available exclusively in fine dining restaurants –
here in New Zealand and in Europe, Asia, Australia and North
America says CEO Grant Rosewarne.

“More than ever
before, chefs can deliver a superb salmon dining experience
to their customers. The development of Ōra King reflects a
dedication to breeding only the best fish. The King salmon
species is itself a rare luxury, making up less than one per
cent of the world’s salmon population.

“The
Ōra King brand builds on all the fine traits of the King
salmon species – it is to salmon what Wagyu is to beef,”
Mr Rosewarne says.

Already international chefs are
singing the praises of Ōra King with the premium brand now
selectively available in Europe, China and the United States
and soon to be launched in Australia and Japan

NZ
King Salmon general manager of foodservice marketing Jemma
McCowan says the company has been carefully monitoring
global market reaction to the new brand.

“Ōra
King is certainly generating some very positive feedback and
support from some of the finest and most celebrated
establishments in Europe and Asia,” Ms McCowan says.

“Feedback we’re getting suggests professional chefs
have been waiting for a dedicated food service brand that
consistently enables them to add real value to their fine
dining menus.”

A commitment to quality founded on
a classical breeding programme born in Marlborough more than
20 years ago represents the extraordinary base on which Ōra
King has been developed.

The New Zealand King Salmon
programme has resulted in 90 salmon families which are
evaluated against standards of culinary excellence. And only
the best are carried forward to the subsequent
generation.

“Today, all our salmon embody the
desirable traits resulting from the company’s careful and
fastidious breeding programme. And Ōra King is the best of
that breed.

“Backed by 25 years farming salmon in
Marlborough and via classical breeding, responsible
husbandry, superior grading and careful handling, it seems
NZ King Salmon is continuing to lead the world in
innovative, sustainable King salmon production,” Mr
Rosewarne says.

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